Type 2 diabetes is spreading like an epidemic. Many people who struggle with weight gain and blood sugar also have prediabetes, often without knowing it.
Diet and lifestyle play a major role, and there is also evidence that magnesium supplementation can improve blood sugar and lipid profiles in adults with prediabetes. This is shown by a large meta-analysis published in the Journal of Diabetes & Metabolic Disorders. In the long term, it may be beneficial to get more magnesium through a whole-food, plant-rich diet while also getting enough protein and healthy fats to regulate blood sugar and weight.

Healthy teeth are important for overall health and appearance. In this context, the trace element selenium plays a protective role in dental health through the immune system, regulation of inflammation, and its function as an antioxidant that protects cells and tissues from damage caused by oxidative stress. Selenium supplementation may therefore be a promising therapy for improving dental health and as part of the treatment of periodontal disease and other dental conditions, according to a review article published in the Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Disease. There are also indications that additional supplementation with Q10 may improve the effect on dental health.

Higher levels of vitamin C in the blood and brain are associated with healthier brain structure and stronger brain networks in older adults. This is according to a large Japanese population study published in PLOS One. The researchers also found that people with lower levels of vitamin C in their blood tended to have less gray matter in the brain and weaker connections in brain networks associated with memory, attention, and other cognitive functions. So why does vitamin C have such an important role in brain health, and how can you get enough?

Osteoporosis and bone fractures are associated with many complications and premature death, especially among older adults. Millions of people therefore take calcium supplements, vitamin D, or a combination of both to support bone health. But according to a new meta-analysis published in The British Medical Journal, these supplements provide little or no benefit. The findings also suggest that high levels of calcium in the blood from various supplements may increase the risk of atherosclerosis, blood clots, and cellular stress. It is therefore important to recognize that bone health also involves magnesium and vitamin K2, which help remove calcium from the bloodstream and deposit it in the bones.

The trace mineral selenium is an essential component of several selenium-containing proteins that support overall health. A new meta-analysis published in BMC Public Health found that selenium deficiency is associated with a higher risk of several diseases, including colorectal cancer, one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide.

Damage to cellular DNA can lead to impaired cell function, cell death, accelerated aging, and mutations that, in the worst case, may develop into cancer. Fortunately, the body has an advanced repair system that continuously corrects DNA damage. New research even suggests that melatonin plays an important role in repairing DNA damage while we sleep.
This finding comes from a placebo-controlled Canadian study of shift workers who took melatonin supplements to compensate for disrupted circadian rhythms. Previous research has shown that the body's natural melatonin production declines with age and can also be reduced by excessive exposure to light from screens and other artificial light sources in the evening. Many people take melatonin supplements to improve their sleep, and the new findings suggest that an additional benefit may be enhanced protection of the body's cells against DNA damage.

Peripheral neuropathy can cause numbness, abnormal sensations, nerve pain, muscle fatigue, cramps, and difficult-to-heal wounds. Diabetic neuropathy also increases the risk of amputation. Peripheral neuropathy is a major global health problem, and according to a review article published in Current Nutrition Reports, deficiencies of vitamins B1 and B12 are associated with the classic forms of peripheral neuropathy.

Asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases, and diet and lifestyle play an important role in its increasing prevalence. Evidence also suggests that the widespread deficiency of vitamin D increases the risk of developing asthma during childhood and adolescence and is associated with more severe symptoms, according to a meta-analysis published in Pediatric Pulmonology.

The production of cellular energy takes place in the mitochondria, where Q10 plays a key role in the metabolism of the two primary fuels: carbohydrates and fats, which are broken down into blood sugar and fatty acids. In addition, cellular uptake of blood sugar requires chromium, and mitochondrial uptake of fatty acids requires a substance called carnitine. Meat and other animal products naturally contain carnitine and therefore support efficient fat metabolism. The body can also produce small amounts of carnitine, a process that requires vitamin C.
You can also read about a Danish-Norwegian study that revealed how mice must consume six times more calories to gain one gram of body weight when fats are combined with a high protein intake. By contrast, fats combined with carbohydrates result in poor energy utilization, with a risk of excess fat storage and increasing overweight.